"That's It, I Give Up." Topic

Ok, so first my fine focus vision webt, and I couldn't do 15mm anymore. Then I needed reading glasses to work on 28mm. Now, either as a result of my PTSD or my medications, I am shaking too much to work on even those. I am up to 4" action figures for my hobby needs…

"Don't give up the dip!"

I'm sorry to here this,I've had thoughts of this since my eyes are slowly giving up but have been using magnifiers to paint 15's for a little while. My suggestion is don't give up but as you say move laterally. Good luck.
Skip.

Don't give up, there is a lady in our group who is legally blind at this point and she is still playing.

Sri Lanka exists for people like you!

Or, try bracing your hands…

Sri Lanka exists for people with a hobby budget of more than $20 USD a month lol!

GI Joe scale is fun!

PR:

would one of these magnifying lamps help?

I got one for $40. USD

I had one of those. Never got anywhere with it. I finally got an Optivisor. Hands free, binocular magnification. Now I can paint again.

I have used a magnifying lamp, with an extra strong magnification (like x5 instead of the usual x2) for a couple years now. I now paint better than I ever did. I'm painting 6's with great detail and am considering 2's.

You should consider using a lamp.

I like the optivisor for Christmas a few years ago, and it works great! Also lower your painting standards; make it look good from 3 ft away.

"I danced with Linda, I danced with Sue,
"Oh but none of them would do,
"For Mary-Ann with the shaky hands,
"What they do to a man! Those shaky hands."

Shaky hands not so good in this contest, but maybe you can apply that talent to someone (*hem* somewhere) else. I think a lamp isn't going to help with shaky hands.

Do what you can. Have fun. Nothing wrong with playing with 4" action figures. Another solution is bags of 54mm toy soldiers in the raw colored plastic. They were fun when we were 10 years old and they're fun today.

54mm plastics.

Yes agree with most comments… don't give up, steady your hands and use visual enhancement devices (I use a magnifying lamp as shown…it is great for me) or if all else fails get someone to paint them for you.

Is your PTSD likely to improve? Or could your meds be changed or tweaked a bit? Hope things get better for you.

I use an Optivisor to help with vision trouble. Like it a lot.

Switch to skirmish games and hire someone to paint for you :)

54mm sounds good…

Find an active gaming group that meets regularly in your area.

Discover what rules they like and who has what collections -- 15mm, 28mm, ECW, AWI, Napoleonics, WWII, etc.

Offer to do the research for their battles and come up with orders of battle for each side.

Keep all members informed of play-date, location, time, scenario, etc. via e-mail.

Show up and play with their painted figure collections.

I have moved around quite a bit over my years, so I have seen a number of gaming clubs and hobby shops. The way the hobby is now it is severely fragmented. Lots of people provide troops for both sides. What is pretty universal is the need for good terrain. Houses may tend to be period specific, but woods, rivers, ditches, hills, and all that are pretty universal. Become the terrain guy. Make the table look great. Every club needs a terrain guy.

Every club needs a terrain guy.

+1 Wise for Mr. Hurtt! This also has the advantage that terrain pieces tend to be large and less fiddly to paint.

Thank you all for the kind words and suggestions. I will soon be posting something positive :-)

Schleich is my preferred scale for the big stuff. I guess they are close to 100mm. Unfortunately, the "real" medieval stuff is increasingly rare. The new stuff is more fantasy. link link

PR, I have the same problem with shaky hands. I've found I can usually get around it by bracing my hand against my desk. If that doesn't work or is impractical a couple of deep breaths do wonders. Don't give up something you love, otherwise the demons win.

Is this the new motto for the Iraqi Army Staff COlege?

I suffer from shaking hands due to the medication I take for a permanent medical condition. It affects my painting and gaming (on occasion my opponent has had to move my figures for me). However, as TheIronPrice says bracing your hand against the desk and/or deep breaths can and will help. I've also changed my style a bit to use washes more and fine lines less. I still manage to produce results I'm pleased with. Keep at it.

Try 54mm. And really instead of painting them do the dip or washes. Many figures in 54mm come in relatively close colors to the troops the represent.

Try the ready-to-go ships from Panzerschiffe! Cast in grey resin, some details blacked in.

I see this has resurfaced :-) Thank you for the new ideas. In the intervening four months, I have gone off all my mefications (not happily, damn you Wirjers Comp!) which has allowrd me to start approaching the hobby again the wy I am used to doing it. I have done some nice painting and terrain, but then realized my gaming group was not really into having me there. So I am back to doing my own things, just for me, my wife, and the offspring. My Persians are back on the table, I am looking forward to tackling them again.

Well if you're in the San Diego area I'll have a game with you.

I weaned off the seroquil, took a while, the service dog was a real help too (can't even begin to say how much) shaky not as bad, painting 28s for SAGA